Life preserver valve



July 12, 1949. 6. w. RECTOR 2,475,220

LIFE PRESERVER VALVE Filed oct. 24, 1944- 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 12, 1949. c. w. RECTOR LIFE PRESERVER'VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCT/ 24, 1944 Inventor 6"/7 7?' s QQ/7er [fl/afp@ 66227? iisil :o i WWW Patented July 12, 1949 'UNITED `ES yPATENT OFFICE LIFE PRESERVER VALVE Christopher Wayne Rector, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 24, 1944, Serial No. 560,116 2 claims. (c1. 251-115) This invention relates to a life preservei and more particularly to an improved valve therefor.

A primary object of this invention is Athe* provision of an improved valve whereby thelife preserver may be inflated by the breath of the wearer, the valve being so positioned as to be convenient to the mouth of the user.

An additional object is the provision of such a valve which may be opened by the teeth of the user, leaving the hands free for other purposes, and which will be automatically self-closing.

Still another object is the provision of such a valve which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds. In the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept:

Figure 1 is a front plan view of one form of life preserver embodying the valve of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view, certain parts thereof being broken away, of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the valve comprising a feature of the instant invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Figure 4, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the parts in a diiferent position of adjustment.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, the life preserver may be of any suitable desired type but in the illustrative embodiment is shown as comprising an inflatable section Ill comprised of inner and outer walls Il and I2, respectively, secured to a jacket-like structure I3 provided with shoulder straps I4 whereby the s-ame may be worn over the shoulders of a wearer. The life preserver may be made of any suitable material but preferably a light weight rubberized airtight cloth is utilized.

Extending from the inflatable portion I is a v tube I of rubber or the like provided at its upper 1 extremity with a valve generally indicated at I6 bead or collar I I adapted closely to surround the valve I6. The valve I6 is comprised of two semicylindrical members I8 and I9, cut away at their lower extremities as at 2U and 2I, respectively, and provided with interior channels 22 and 23, the arrangement being such that the channels terminate below the extremities of the member when the valve is in closed position, the constriction of the bead I 1 about the upper portion of the valve serving normally to hold the flat surfaces of the upper valve members in juxtaposed relation, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. When it is desired to open the valve for inflation or deflation of the compartment I 0, the lower extremities 20 and 2| of the valve may be compressed in any desired manner as by the teeth or the fingers, thus separating the upper portion of the members I8 and I9 and permitting the passage of air through the channels 22 and 23. Such pressure serves to expand the bead II, to hold the same expanded until the pressure against the portions 20 and 2| is released, whereupon the natural resiliency of the bead recloses the valve.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device accomplishing all the objects of this invention and including advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A valve for flexible fluid conduits comprising a pair of opposed complementary members inserted within one end of a flexible duid conduit 3 and having their outer surfaces engaging the inner walls of said exible iiuid conduit, the inner surface of said members having engageable planar surfaces at one end of their adjacent surfaces, divergingly tapered surfaces having longitudinal channels therein, and extending from said planar surfaces to an extremity of said complementary members, said members being fulcrummed upon each othei to selectively engage their planar surfaces to close a passage there- 10 between and to engage their tapered surfaces to establish a passage therebetween, the members being biased towards their closed position by resilient means embracing said members at the longitudinal portion thereof upon Which said planar surfaces are formed.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said resilient means consists cf an annularly enlarged portion of said exible conduit.

CHRISTOPHER WAYNE RECTOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 11,016 Bunce Mar. 28, 1871 728,745 Morrison May 19, 1903 1,008,641 Gregory Nov. 14, 1911 1,174,557 Franklin Mar. 7, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,864 Great Britain 1887 9,095'A Great Britain 1879 

